V-1 — Spouse of LPR (Pending I-130, 3+ Years)

United States•North America

Closed

V-1 — Spouse of LPR (Pending I-130, 3+ Years)

Residency Pathway

No longer accepting new applications

No longer issued since 2007. The V visa program expired and has not been reauthorized by Congress.

At a Glance

Processing Time

3 months – 1 year

Estimated Cost

USD $185

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Until I-130 adjudicated

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$52,000

Quality of Life

185/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Spouse of a lawful permanent resident who filed an I-130 petition at least 3 years prior. Note: largely obsolete since 2007.

The V-1 is a US nonimmigrant visa created by the LIFE Act in December 2000 for spouses of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) whose I-130 petition was filed on or before December 21, 2000 and has been pending for at least 3 years.

Holders may live and work in the U.S. (EAD required) until their I-130 is adjudicated. The visa carries dual intent, is not renewable, and has no dependent category. In practice, no V visas have been issued in years; the program is effectively obsolete.

This visa is ideal for spouses of LPRs with a pre-December 2000 I-130 who need lawful status while awaiting an immigrant visa number — a situation that no longer occurs.

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Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

United States

IR-1 — Spouse of U.S. Citizen

ValidityIndefinite

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be the spouse of a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

The LPR spouse must have filed Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) on or before December 21, 2000.

The I-130 petition must have been pending for at least 3 years.

The priority date must not be current (meaning an immigrant visa is not yet available).

Must not have already had an immigrant visa interview or be scheduled for one.

Must be otherwise admissible to the U.S.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport.

Form I-130 receipt notice (Form I-797).

Proof of marriage to the LPR.

Evidence of the I-130 filing date (on or before Dec 21, 2000).

Form DS-160 (for consular processing) or Form I-539 (for change of status).

Medical examination records (if applying from within the U.S.).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows spouses of LPRs to live in the U.S. while waiting for their immigrant visa priority date to become current.
Provides work authorization (requires filing Form I-765).
Allows for travel in and out of the U.S. without special restrictions.
Prevents family separation during long immigration backlogs.

Worth Knowing

This visa is effectively obsolete for new applicants because the I-130 must have been filed on or before December 21, 2000.
Status terminates if the LPR spouse naturalizes (becomes a U.S. citizen) or withdraws the I-130 petition.
The applicant must remain qualifying for an immigrant visa.
Highly complex; requires legal verification of the 'pending for 3 years' and 'priority date' status.

Application Process

Verify qualification based on the December 21, 2000 filing deadline.

If outside the U.S., apply for the V-1 visa through consular processing at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If inside the U.S., file Form I-539 (Application to Change Nonimmigrant Status) with Supplement A.

Submit Form I-693 (Medical Examination) if applying from within the U.S.

Pay the required fees.

Application Forms

DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online

Verified Claims (22)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

Verify eligibility based on the December 21, 2000 filing deadline.; If outside the U.S., apply for t…

travel.state.gov

Fee Breakdown

MRV: 185 USD

travel.state.gov

Fees

$185 MRV

travel.state.gov

Forms

DS-160; I-539

travel.state.gov

Forms · 0 · description

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Forms · 1 · description

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Forms · DS-160 · description

Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

travel.state.gov

Forms · I-539 · description

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

uscis.gov

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$52,000

Quality of Life

185/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Spouse of a lawful permanent resident who filed an I-130 petition at least 3 years prior. Note: largely obsolete since 2007.

This visa is ideal for spouses of LPRs with a pre-December 2000 I-130 who need lawful status while awaiting an immigrant visa number — a situation that no longer occurs.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be the spouse of a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

The LPR spouse must have filed Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) on or before December 21, 2000.

The I-130 petition must have been pending for at least 3 years.

The priority date must not be current (meaning an immigrant visa is not yet available).

Must not have already had an immigrant visa interview or be scheduled for one.

Must be otherwise admissible to the U.S.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport.

Form I-130 receipt notice (Form I-797).

Proof of marriage to the LPR.

Evidence of the I-130 filing date (on or before Dec 21, 2000).

Form DS-160 (for consular processing) or Form I-539 (for change of status).

Medical examination records (if applying from within the U.S.).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows spouses of LPRs to live in the U.S. while waiting for their immigrant visa priority date to become current.
Provides work authorization (requires filing Form I-765).
Allows for travel in and out of the U.S. without special restrictions.
Prevents family separation during long immigration backlogs.

Worth Knowing

This visa is effectively obsolete for new applicants because the I-130 must have been filed on or before December 21, 2000.
Status terminates if the LPR spouse naturalizes (becomes a U.S. citizen) or withdraws the I-130 petition.
The applicant must remain qualifying for an immigrant visa.
Highly complex; requires legal verification of the 'pending for 3 years' and 'priority date' status.

Application Process